Daily Republican., 1887-08-23
TIL g SILENT MAN.

One pleasant autumnal morning q
numbering diligence from the pro.
vinces, all covered with the dust of q
long journey. a weezing, creaking,
asthmatic vehicle, drawn by four
horses, pulled up at one of the bar.
riers of Paris, under the huge embat.
tied archway that the douanier, or
custom house officer on the station,
might make the usual examination to
see that no coniraband goods were
being smuggled through, for there is
an octrio, or local duty, on certain ar.
ticles, such particularly as wine and
spirits brought from the country for the
supply of the great metropolis.
Pierre Dubois, the custom house Of
ficer, was character worth sketch.
ing. He had sharp nose, led as the
cognac he was so apt at shifting out;
little beady black eyes, full of intelli-
gence, and little pursed up mouth,
full Of arrogance and official import.
|ance His hat was pulled over one
|eye with very fierce martial cock,
and he sported pig tail in defiance of
existing regulations. He had inher-
tied uniform from predecessor much
larger than himself, so that while his
jack boots completely covered his
thighs he was immersed in coat, the
tails of which dragged the ground, as
did the metallic scabbard of his pom.
derous sabre.
"Nothing in my line," he muitered,
as he ransacked the vehicle and scru-
,inized the lassengers. "Heia helm!
no job for me this morning."
A snuffy old gentleman In bob wig,
and pretty girl IN a Brussels cap,
with the air of soubr, tie, were the
only occupants of the ligence.
The driver jumped down to stretch
his legs and tie up his rotten traces,
handing the reins to portly, we'll.
dressed man, who sat on the box with
his hands on his knees.
"a fine morning, monsieur" said
Pierre to the portly gentleman, while
the driver was busy with his harness.
No reply was vouchsafed
"Humph !! an Englishman, per-
haps," thought the custom house offi-
Ger. "Me try him again. Yer goot
mornin', mestare
No answer.
"a German" thought the function.
larry, "gnten Morgen, mein Herr"
Still no reply.
"Diable p said poor Pierre. SIS he
deaf and dumb? Buenos dias, ,senor."
No reply even to this attack.
"Monsieur," cried the little man,
"you are no gentleman. Do YOU
hear 2" he screamed. "Do you Know
what it is to insult government off.
Ger p? Don't you know that you are
bound to answer all questions put by
gendarme ? Come down here. l
want to have a talk with you."
The little Frenchwoman in the
Brussels cap here put her head out OF
the coach window.
"Mon Deu, monsieur" said she.
my poor husband is asleep. Why
do you wish to disturb him?"
"AsleepP" said the Custom House
official. docs lie sleep with his eyes
open?"
Always" said the pretty French
woman "Driyer, do take the reins
and drive off,"
at is not safe for your husband to
sleep on coach box," said the official
II must wake him up" and he drew
his long sabre from the scabbard.
"What are you going to do?"
screamed the little Frenchwoman.
"Oh, monsieur" she added to ber
travelling companion, "Monsicur has
drawn his sword. Quel horreurl"
"Gendarme," said the snuffy old
Frenchman, pro.rudirg his head and
joining in the dialogue, 'you are
transcending your duty. Put up your
sword and don't keep us here as if you
were a highwayman, Driver, pro
ceed.'
mot till get a civil answer from
this fellow" cried the Official. "Do
you see this, MONSIEUR he exclaim ed,
brandishing his long sabre in the very
eyes Of the silent stranger.
The silent man neither winkcd nor
stirred.
The gendarme brought the fiat of
his sabre down on the travellers
toes with most uncompromising
whack.
Now" he exclaimed, drawing back |
his weapon, 'I'll make an example of |
him."
Nom de Dieu," screamed the |
Frenchwoman, "the monster will as
sassinatc my husband" and she made
the street ring with the cry OF murder.
But the ferocious Pierre Dubois was
not to be stayed. Drawing back his
sabre he gave point, and with a tre-
mendous thrust in carte he buried his
blade deeply in the portly paunch of
the silent traveller Drawing forth his
murderous blade it was followed by a
gushing flood of the purest Rochelle
brandy, fourth proof, worth 20 francs
a gallon. The silent passenger was
an automation figure Of copper filled
with brandy from the soles OF his
boots to the crown of his hat.
oMadame, - said the officer with q |